New release : Aerolite 103

Discussion Hub Aircraft
, , ,
61

I just bought this today and I am very happy with it. It is just what I hoped for. I have a Aerolite 103 in storage and this sim is spot on.
Flaps blank out the elevator on landing. And nearly zero flare at touchdown. PERFECT!
p.s. Vr is awesome.

3 Likes
62

Flying with the Aerolite 103 in VR, they have to be awesome

63

It only seems to have problems sinking into the ground after slewing for me.

64

I picked up Aerolite just for that! Can’t wait for VR.

2 Likes
65

I also like those flights in your imported paramotor, very tempted to buy it, but I will wait for a version for MSFS

66

Definitely wait. The paramotor model works, but has lots of issues. If you already had it, it’s fun to convert and fly, but if you buy it just for FS2020 you’d be disappointed.

I really hope either Franz updates it, or there is another model released.

I wonder if any sim will ever actually build dynamics for canopy wings?

1 Like
67

I can confirm that. Same here. After slewing it sinks into the runway.

69

Not sure if similar but free ultralight here - Ultralight – Special Request – FLIGHTSIM SQUADRON

70

Anyone know how to fix the sound so it sounds like an Aerolite 103 and not a home depot generator?

71

Extend the gear. it thinks its a retract. not animated on the visual model, but configured in the CFG somewhere.

72

Any idea when this one will be on the MarketPlace?

73

Hi All

I just bought it on simmarket and i love it so far. In VR i can discover again with a fresh look my favorite places. Even the sound is totally fine for me. Just missing to se my body in the cockpit.

This little beast must be very fun to fly in group. Are you aware of any Aeroflite 103 flying community?
cheers

1 Like
74

Does this update not address the sound issue?

http://www.nemethdesigns.com/smartblog/55/aerolite-103-v110.html

75

No. It sounds like ■■■■. And they still haven’t fixed the landing gear issue even though I sent them an email telling them what was wrong with it. The aircraft is configured in a way that it thinks its a retractable gear system. its not modeled in the animations, but if you start a flight in the air and try to land the gear will be “retracted” and it will sink into the ground. If you know this and “extend” the gear first it will be fine. Further, if you start on the ground, the gear will be “extended” and you can fly and land fine until you “retract” the gear. then it will sink into the ground again. I have tried modifying the config files to change the “gear type”, but I did not find the right modification to fix it. I told them all of this so they could pinpoint the “issue”, but they either havent taken my message into consideration, or its not as simple as I described it here. However, what I said is true about the model behavior in the sim. Just curious, Have you flown it? Does it sound right to you?

1 Like
76

Relax. I don’t own it and was just asking if it was resolved before I purchase.

77

Its still a decent aircraft, especially if you are an avid fan of these types of Part 103 True ultralights! The model is top notch IMO. its just the sound that has no authenticity.

1 Like
78

I now got the email from PC Aviator that version 1.1 is downloadable, which I did.
I like the new pilot figure and the flaps. Didn‘t find the switch for them, but they work nicely.
Looking forward to the next version as there still are these small bugs to be fixed:

  • slip indicator reverse indication
  • throttle reverse movement
  • colour of airplane turns red when zooming away
  • Quicklook 45 degree no return to default view
  • sinks into runway when landing (after slewing)
  • cold and dark not correct
79

I picked this up the other day and have been having quite some fun with it! The aircraft is limited but it’s something I could fly in real life, which is a thrill on its own. :slight_smile:

A few notes:

  • The actual aircraft has no in-flight pitch trim, and advertises itself as placing the pilot at center of gravity so trim tabs are not required based on pilot weight. However in the sim, I have to roll the pitch trim control a lot before it’s trimmed properly to fly level at cruise. The weight/loadout dialog pre-flight also warns that it’s way off center, and there’s no way to re-center it with a realistic pilot weight.
    • Because there’s no pitch trim, to fly “realistically”, once trimmed for level flight, just use the throttle to climb/descend, and for level flight dial in whatever speed keeps you level. This’ll be somewhere 45-50 knots depending on pilot weight and how you trimmed.
  • Engine noise is just as loud “inside” as “outside”, since there is no inside. :wink: If it bothers you, you can turn down engine noises in the sim settings and/or switch to headphone simulation mode.
  • I frequently encountered an unexpected squeaking noise during flight at first – I discovered this was the wheel brakes, which I was engaging in-flight by pressing Y on my Xbox controller as a shift key or by accidentally riding the toe brake on my rudder pedals. Now that I don’t hit it by accident, it doesn’t bother me as much.
  • The instrument panel is hard to read because it’s down by your feet. Zooming in to instrument view is easy though if your eyes have trouble reading the numbers zoomed out.
  • Aerobatic maneuvers are likely to fail. :wink: In real life the wings would probably snap if you did a barrel roll, whereas in sim you’ll probably just stall and fall to the ground. :wink:

Overall I enjoy it, it’s giving me what I expected and the worst bugs from the earlier version seem fixed.

1 Like
80

One more thing – to simulate part 103 ultralight rules in the US, make sure you don’t put more than 5 gallons in the tank! :wink: The gas tank on the simulated plane is a larger tank than is legal in the US, so will give you longer range.

2 Likes
81

Another thing I noticed – the aircraft has no mixture control, but the engine doesn’t have a pressure-compensating carburetor. Climbing from an airport in Colorado starting at 6700ft above MSL is a lot harder than starting from 200ft above MSL in Oregon


I imagine in real life you’d be able to tune the engine suitably before flying in a higher altitude area, though you wouldn’t have an in-flight control
 There doesn’t seem to be any way to do this in the sim, however, as the mixture control is only used as a cutoff and doesn’t show any change in engine behavior until then.